Melukote, Karnataka
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If you want to quietly wander around a small village, feeling every bit of divinity it is soaked in, observing the strictly divine practices of the highly orthodox inhabitants, and experiencing the magical vibrations of the powerful temples, then Melukote is probably the only such place in the country. Spread over a small rocky area at the foothills of a hill, as a tourist you would get a strange feeling that though the people and the time have moved on, the village is caught in a time warp and stuck in its glorious past and is almost as if it does not want to let that past to go. The place also has a ghastly past because of which many families, even today, do not celebrate Deepavali, the most celebrated festival in India. The village with its narrow lanes and by-lanes is reminiscent of the Agraharas (villages with no tax and where scholars lived) of times gone by. Are you a spiritual traveller or the one in search of divinity or in search of history or in search of God, you may just find it all in Melukote. It is a powerful place. Barring the peak summer months of April and May, it is conducive to visiting Melukote during other months. Melukote is approximately 40 kilometres away from Mandya, the district headquarters. Mandya is also the nearest railway station. Mysore domestic airport is about 68 kilometres away, and Bengaluru international airport is approximately 170 kilometres away.
Nearby Places to See
A beautiful Hindu shrine honouring the incarnation of Vishnu known as Narasimha. The temple was classically constructed atop a steep, rocky mountain. There is a tall and beautiful entrance tower at the ancient temple. About 500 steps lead up to the temple, where worshipers await.
It is Melukote’s second-largest and most popular religious building. Many ancient kings gave substantial land and other grants to this temple because of its popularity among their subjects. A small temple to the goddess sits off to the right of the sanctum. Many ornate columns can be seen in front of this temple.
The large pond at the foot of the hill on which the Yoganarasimha temple stands is a beautiful sight. A mantapa stands on the stairway leading down to the pond.
This is yet another beautiful Melukote building. Located not far from the Cheluvanarayana Swamy Temple, its one-of-a-kind structure appears to be either incomplete or in the process of collapsing, leaving only the ruins.
Things to Buy
Things to buy include Puliyogare Powder, Souvenirs, Photos of Gods.
Foods to Relish
Sakkarai Pongal, Puliyogare.
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Destination